Program Introduction

There are over 37,000 miles of paved roads in the state of Oregon. The Roadway Safety program works with the ODOT Engineering Division, local and regional governments, as well as private contractors who build and maintain roads to ensure that all roads are engineered to meet the highest safety standards. The program also provides recommendations for systematic improvements in high crash risk locations. The four E's of safety - engineering, enforcement, education and emergency medical services - are the foundation of all Roadway Safety Program activities.

Engineering: While human factors are the main contributing reason in traffic crashes, well-engineered roads can mitigate the severity of such crashes or prevent them altogether. Even low-cost improvements, such as striping, raised pavement markers, rumble strips, speed bumps and conspicuous signage have proven to be effective counter measures.

Education: Roadway Safety Program helps coordinate ongoing education, training and research on how road engineering impacts traffic safety. In addition, the program raises awareness among key stakeholders and the general public about the role of safety corridors and their effect on crash reduction.

Emergency Medical Services: Timely delivery of emergency medical services (EMS) is essential to reducing fatal outcomes. The Roadway Safety Program works to ensure that road engineering and driver behaviors do not impact the timely delivery of EMS through ongoing education and partnerships with a variety of state and local public works partners.

Program Manager

Safety in Engineering: Training Resources

Road engineering has the ability to directly impact the rates of crashes and overall traffic safety. Continuing education and access to latest research and recommendations is critical to building safe roads and reducing the rate of injuries and fatalities on Oregon roads.

Safety Corridors

Safety corridors are stretches of state highways where fatal and serious injury traffic crash rates are higher than the statewide average for similar types of roadways. To reduce the number of these incidents, the stretch of the road is designated as a "safety corridor" and becomes subject to heightened enforcement and double fines for traffic infractions. Drivers may also be asked to turn on headlights during the day, reduce speed and refrain from passing.

Oregon's first safety corridor was designated in 1989 and located on Route 62 in Medford. In 1990 the Federal Highway Administration recognized safety corridors as one of the five most promising short-term traffic crash countermeasures.